"Hey"
That damn single word text. The marker, the catalyst of change. Those damn bouncing dots while she typed the next message.
"You got plans tonight?"
The final nail in my coffin, I just didn't know it. I didn't know what the night had in store. If I had any artistic sense, maybe I'd turn that night into a play, The Ruining of Adam: A Tragedy in Three Parts. If I allow myself to be honest, I would do it all again, damn the consequences. Okay, consequences is a big word, it's just that things will never be the same and part of me is gonna miss it.
My reply that opened the door?
"Nah, I'm free, just chilling and gaming."
Fuck. What I should have said was; "Not tonight, I'm grinding elo." That would have had a very different result. One that would probably have kept my sanity intact. Kept me in that cozy friend zone.
Contrary to what some people say, some guys just like being friends with women. Don't let your dick get in the way, and everything is chill. Unfortunately, my dick happened to get in the way.
A minute later her reply came through, "Well, put some pants on, I'm coming over. Fuck your rank."
I let out a long sigh. It's Friday night, I've got a ladder to climb, but there's no convincing her otherwise so I go find some pants. How does she always know? Some sixth sense or something? Definitely not the fact that I refuse to wear pants in my own house, I bust my ass for this place, my ass is gonna be comfy damnit.
Ten minutes later, I'm on my couch playing a casual match when the door opens.
"Sup fuck stick?" She greets before the for even shuts.
"One day I'm gonna lock that door and make you beg to come inside. That, or charge for entry." I retort as she plops on the couch in her usual spot.
This is probably a good point to properly introduce you to "her". Sandra, aka San. She never liked being called Sandra, and Sandy was even worse. She had a snark to her that made most people just accept it. A fiery attitude only matched by her hair. It was the boldest red I'd ever seen and, if she let it be, an absolute wild mess, thick and unruly. But, she likes it long, regardless of the work required to tame it. She's a tall 5'10", curvy and proud as fuck of all of it. Her green eyes pierce souls and incinerate egos. A bad goth bitch if I've ever seen one. Needless to say, I'm a man like any other and took quite instant note of her looks when we first met. I was also, however, a victim of an incinerated ego when I tried to play my cards. She was fresh out of a toxic relationship and in full independent boss mode. The rest is history.
She's here all the time now. We met a few years back when we both worked the same shitty retail job. We'd both since moved on, but obviously remained friends. Tonight, though, she seemed in rare form. I finally had a lull in the match to be able to look her way and catch her sticking her tongue out at me in response to my comment.
I was at a loss for a response of my own, though, as I took in her presence. She wore a black top with a pseudo under-bust corset, ripped up jean short-shorts, big black combat boots and fucking fishnet stockings. She knew she was teasing me. We're quite candid with each other, so she was well aware of my favoritism towards the goth look and fishnets. Her eyebrow quirked up as I realized my eyes had lingered a bit too long.
"Hell of an outfit to wear just to hang out." I say as I turn back to my game. "If I knew we were dressing up, I would have put on my gray sweats instead."
The joke draws a laugh from her, mostly because we both know gray sweatpants don't help me much. Like I said, we're pretty candid with each other.
"Who says this was for you?"
"Didn't think it was. I figured it was practice for when you finally decide you like women."
"Nah, more like practice for when girls decide to like you. Gotta show them who really owns you"
I laughed, "They do say the dad bod is in, so I'm thinking any day now, and I'll be getting swarmed."
"I'll pay to watch that show, be sure to save me a ticket."
"Aye aye, Captain" I mock salute as the match ends in my loss. "So did you just come to talk shit and show off?"
"Nah, I brought presents." She says as she procured an interesting bag. It was like a designer zip lock bag, all abstract design and bright colors. "It's Friday and I happened to pick up some gummies, thought we'd kill some brain cells and laugh our asses off tonight."
"Last time you had this idea, I was sore for days. Laughing that much is more cardio than I want." I shake my head as I toss the controller to the side.
"And this time, I got something different. So who knows? Maybe it's conspiracy night instead? Either way, I plan on having a good time." She said with a grin as she opened up the bag and pulled out some gummies. Popping one in her mouth, she tossed another at me. Cherry flavored, I like cherries.
"Well, I'm pregaming snacks." I say as I head to the kitchen to do just that.
"Bring me those weeb shrimp chips you love so much." she hollers to me.
"Just because they're from Japan doesn't make them weeb chips."
"Yeah, but you're a weeb, and you like them. Therefore, weeb chips."
I return, tossing a bag at her while I sit back down with chips of my own. By this point, she's already sprawled across the couch, head resting on the arm and feet kicked out towards my side.
Tonight, we chatted for a bit about our weeks as we waited for the high to kick in. I was flicking through the TV trying to find something to watch when she readjusted herself on the couch, bringing her legs closer to me as she did. How she sat now, I was forced to rest my arm on her legs near her ankles. This was nothing special, nothing new. So why was I suddenly getting stiff? Those fishnets, her smooth skin are a beautiful contrast... Whatever this gummy was, it was making it hard not to focus on her, snacks be damned.
"I think it's finally kicking in. Put on some dumb comedy so we can laugh our asses off" she said as she laid there, staring at the TV. The light illuminated her in such a seductive way. I felt myself continue to harden. Now, I was thankful I didn't wear the gray sweats.
Snapping myself out of my revelry, I chose the next comedy that popped up, not even registering what it was. It seemed funny though, at least for us right now. Though, I found myself not paying attention to the show but to her. The way the light danced on her skin and in her eyes, the way she laughed without reservation. I realized with a jolt that, at some point, I had woven my fingers into her fishnets and was caressing the leg beneath.
She wasn't looking at me, but had stopped laughing as much. Maybe it was the gummy, maybe it was just years of forgotten feelings, but right now, I was going mad. I wanted her. I wanted her so bad. I needed to hear her scream for me. Not only that, but I needed her. Before good sense kicked in, with almost a whisper, I spoke;
"I could be the best you ever had."
Where the fuck did that come from? I immediately knew I'd fucked up. I lost myself, and I'd fucked up years worth of friendship. Maybe she didn't hear? Fuck. Who am I kidding? I wanted her to hear, and I wanted her to make me prove it. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the show as a silence filled the space between us.